Croghan woman injured in crash at LCGH parking lot

LOWVILLE  A Croghan woman suffered a broken neck Tuesday morning when the vehicle she was riding in hit a large transformer box in the Lewis County General Hospital parking lot.

Village police said Mary E. Moshier, 70, Route 812, was driving a van in the small parking area behind the Medical Arts Building at the North State Street facility when she failed to properly apply the brakes while trying to park. The vehicle jumped a curb and crashed into a dumpster-sized transformer box, police said.

Ms. Moshier and two passengers  her sisters Lois E. Moshier, 69, and Susanna R. Moshier, 67, same address  were taken to the emergency department.

Lois Moshier, who had been sitting in the rear of the van, suffered a broken neck and was transferred to Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, while the other two were checked out and released.

Police blamed the crash on driver inattention, noting the driver could not initially recall exactly what happened.

No tickets were issued, although an investigation is continuing.

The impact of the crash caused coolant to leak from the transformer, but the chemical was contained in a holding basin, police said. No power interruption was reported at the hospital and nursing home.

Theyre still running power through that transformer, James M. Martin, Lewis Countys emergency services director, said Tuesday afternoon.

No problems are expected, since temperatures are not extremely high, he said.

National Grid will have to replace the damaged transformer, likely within the next few days, according to a hospital release. Mr. Martin said that could happen right away if the utility company finds a replacement in the region.

The hospital may have to switch to generator power for a short period while the transformer is switched, he said.

The accident caused hospital officials to redirect all traffic to its Number Three Road entrance for much of Tuesday morning.

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